Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: The Necromancer’s Prisoner
SERIES: Hearts of Allaria #1
AUTHOR: Elric Shaw
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 309 Pages
RELEASE DATE: November 27, 2023
BLURB:
Sometimes the real villain isn’t who it seems…
Alistair’s first solo mission as a paladin sounded simple enough: purge the undead terrorizing a remote mountain village and bring the wicked necromancer controlling them to justice. But when he’s captured, he begins to suspect that the village faces a far greater threat than a few skeletons…and that his strange captor might need protecting just as badly.
Paladins have hunted Ignatius his entire life. His crime—daring to be born with the wrong kind of magic. The mountains seemed like the perfect place to seek refuge for the winter…until an obnoxiously handsome paladin arrives on his doorstep. Ignatius expects to loathe Alistair like the rest of his arrogant kin; however, when a harsh winter storm forces them together, he finds himself opening up to the paladin in ways he’d never dreamed possible.
Alistair and Ignatius both have every reason not to trust the other. Yet, as mysterious magic threatens to eradicate the nearby village, they have little choice except to combine forces if they hope to survive.
Can a paladin and a necromancer set aside their differences for the greater good…or will the rift between them prove impossible to ever bridge?
A slow burn, fade-to-black M/M fantasy romance featuring forced proximity, hurt/comfort, enemies-to-lovers, and a hard-won HEA. Every book in Hearts of Allaria is standalone and can be read in any order. Perfect for fans of K. D. Edwards, Tavia Lark, and Ben Alderson.
REVIEW:
Alistair is a young, new paladin Knight of the Order of the Radiant Dawn who many believed inherited his title rather than earned it. Alistair intended to prove the doubters wrong. When a small town in the hills claims that their village is being plundered by the undead, Alistair is sent to investigate. However, chasing his undead quarry leads Alistair into a dire situation that may not be so much of a calamity in the long run. Then again, Alistair and Iggy have years of bigotry and indoctrination to overcome before something positive can appear.
The Necromancer’s Prisoner is a charming tale that advertises the message – ‘The many should not be reviled for the sins of the few’. An important lesson, to be sure. This moral is weaved into a mystery of magic, missing persons, theft, and other heart-wrenching dramas that had me thoroughly enjoying this splendid novel – and shedding the odd tear.
The story is told in the third person, with alternating chapters from the viewpoints of Alistair and Iggy. Technically, it rides the odd line between autonomous body parts vs what’s acceptable in the third person – so this is purely a case of what’s right for you. As the first book in a series of standalone stories set in a specific universe, this particular tale is set in an alpine-style district cut off from civilization when the winter blizzards block the passes. The terrain mixed with a wealth of runes, magic, religion, and mystery provided numerous scenarios that kept me guessing ‘who dunnit’.
Alistair and Iggy have tragedy in their past. While Alistair has become the shining Knight who brandishes his magical light with pride, Iggy sank into the shadows to live, using his undead as family. Both have prejudices to overcome and when they connect, Iggy realizes that surviving isn’t enough. Iggy is an absolute star who melted my heart with childhood songs and memories that raised a lump in my throat.
The extended cast is small, yet it covers a significant personality range. There’s the opinionated priest, a yellow-bellied mayor, the power-hungry, a happy mage, and, my favorite of the bunch, Liliana – a tough lady whose good opinion is hard won, but once gained, it is unfailing.
The only element that stopped me from giving this story full marks was the short timeline in which so much happened.
RATING: 
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